Report: Poconos Charter School Violated State Law.

Here's One We Missed ... ... it's a bit of yeoman's work from our Mothership colleague Steve Esack:

"A Monroe County charter school has violated the state charter school law by having "improper entanglements" with a church run by the school's founder, according to a preliminary report issued by the state auditor general's office.

The report, obtained by The Morning Call, says the Pocono Mountain Charter School in Tobyhanna also may have illegally diverted taxpayer money to adjacent Shawnee Tabernacle Church. It also may have improperly received $87,101 from the state in rental reimbursements for its building lease agreement with the church.

The report also says the charter school may have violated the state Ethics Act rule against conflict of interest in other dealings with the church, which is run by the Rev. Dennis Bloom.

The Pocono Mountain School Board in October 2010 revoked the charter school's right to operate as an independent public school after a district investigation found similar problems allegedly occurred between 2007 and 2010."

Update (1/10/12, 4:20 p.m.): We received the following statement from the charter school rebutting Wagner's allegations:

"A preliminary report of the Pennsylvania Auditor General’s audit of Pocono Mountain Charter School (PMCS) has been circulated throughout the local media and community. The report, which has yet to be officially released and finalized by the Auditor General’s office, repeats many of the charges that the Pocono Mountain School District used when it attempted to revoke the school’s charter—the same findings that were overturned at the state level when the Charter Appeals Board ruled in favor of the charter school. It is unfortunate that some in the media felt compelled to feature a leaked draft of the findings as the charter school’s ability to respond was severely limited because the law requires that draft audits be kept confidential.

While Pocono Mountain Charter School is disappointed that these unsubstantiated findings have once again been brought to the forefront, it is not surprising that the Auditor General’s office has rehashed these charges. Auditor General Jack Wagner has attempted to call for a moratorium on charter schools on several occasions.

When considering these findings, it is important for the community to look at the situation as a whole. First, PMCS is required to submit a comprehensive audit to Pennsylvania Department of Education every year, and all of those audits have resulted in no further action on the Department’s part. Furthermore, the Pocono Mountain School District, which has been quick to condemn the charter school over this latest report, has had a series of unfavorable audits itself from the Auditor General. A 2009 audit revealed the district overstated the number of students it enrolled, which generated more taxpayer revenues to which it was entitled. Additionally, a 2008 audit found the district lost 69 computers which were due to be returned to the leasing company, but couldn't be found. In response, the district just continued to make lease payments from taxpayer money. The report also revealed that the school district’s inventory system had incorrect information about 611 computers— a significant amount of assets paid for with taxpayer dollars.

Lastly, the auditor general’s report, even if final, is not binding on the school in any way and will not impact how it is run.

Pocono Mountain Charter School will continue to defend itself against charges that aim to tarnish the school’s reputation and do not accurately reflect the high quality education its students receive.

A preliminary report of the Pennsylvania Auditor General’s audit of Pocono Mountain Charter School (PMCS) has been circulated throughout the local media and community. The report, which has yet to be officially released and finalized by the Auditor General’s office, repeats many of the charges that the Pocono Mountain School District used when it attempted to revoke the school’s charter—the same findings that were overturned at the state level when the Charter Appeals Board ruled in favor of the charter school. It is unfortunate that some in the media felt compelled to feature a leaked draft of the findings as the charter school’s ability to respond was severely limited because the law requires that draft audits be kept confidential.

While Pocono Mountain Charter School is disappointed that these unsubstantiated findings have once again been brought to the forefront, it is not surprising that the Auditor General’s office has rehashed these charges. Auditor General Jack Wagner has attempted to call for a moratorium on charter schools on several occasions.

When considering these findings, it is important for the community to look at the situation as a whole. First, PMCS is required to submit a comprehensive audit to Pennsylvania Department of Education every year, and all of those audits have resulted in no further action on the Department’s part. Furthermore, the Pocono Mountain School District, which has been quick to condemn the charter school over this latest report, has had a series of unfavorable audits itself from the Auditor General. A 2009 audit revealed the district overstated the number of students it enrolled, which generated more taxpayer revenues to which it was entitled. Additionally, a 2008 audit found the district lost 69 computers which were due to be returned to the leasing company, but couldn't be found. In response, the district just continued to make lease payments from taxpayer money. The report also revealed that the school district’s inventory system had incorrect information about 611 computers— a significant amount of assets paid for with taxpayer dollars.

Lastly, the auditor general’s report, even if final, is not binding on the school in any way and will not impact how it is run.

Pocono Mountain Charter School will continue to defend itself against charges that aim to tarnish the school’s reputation and do not accurately reflect the high quality education its students receive."